Little monsters have “A Million Reasons” to love Lady Gaga’s latest album “Joanne.” Released in October, this album reveals a softer rock side to the pop sensation that brought us “Bad Romance” and “Born This Way.”
Gaga’s vocal and lyrical ability replaces the myriad of disco pop electronic sounds that have become a token of her sound. So, if you had any doubt that the woman could sing, you won’t after listening to this album. Some of the most notable vocal performances are found in “Dancing in Circles,” “Come to Mama” and “Perfect Illusion.”
When Gaga performed at the Super Bowl in February, there was some surprise on social media that she didn’t take the opportunity to make a political statement. This may seem surprising if you haven’t listened to the album. In her push-the-envelope style, Gaga not only talks about taboo topics in her songs but also has several political statements to make. In her song “Come to Mama,” Gaga sings about how society needs to put aside prejudices and let each other live. Lyrics to the song include “there’s gonna be no future, if we don’t figure this out,” “look what that rainbow did” and “the only prisons that exist are ones we put each other in.” In “Angel Down,” Gaga pays an ode to the Black Lives Matter Movement. The song asks for action with the lyrics “I’m a believer. It’s chaos. Where are our leaders?” and “Why do we pretend we’re wrong? Has our young courage faded?”
But Gaga doesn’t stick to politics. The title track “Joanne,” is an emotional tribute to her aunt. The lyrics “I promised I wouldn’t say goodbye, so I grin and my voice gets thin” seem so specific and yet universal at the same time. Gaga’s tribute to her aunt will send your feelings spiraling.
Whereas in the past Gaga focused on grandiose sounds and more abstract lyrics, this softer side of Gaga seems more straightforward, evidenced by her lyrics. But if no other song is a hit for you, “A Million Reasons” should be. It’s not the title track, but it seems to speak volumes about what it feels like to want to give up. The song is written like a love song, but with lyrics like “head stuck in a cycle, I look off and I stare” and “I just need one good reason to stay,” Gaga gives a raw rendition of what it feels like to push through when you really don’t want to.
Gaga may have changed her sound drastically with this last album, but she hasn’t lost what fans have always loved about her. This softer side of Gaga, stripped of electronic sounds and extravagant costumes, brings forth lyrics that better represent her and better connect to her fans. Gaga’s “Joanne” has songs that will inspire the little monster in all of us.
